177 Chapter 177: Duel (1/2)

Despite his opponent's youthful appearance, the middle-aged veteran refused to lower his guard. His many years of experience on the battlefield warned him that there was something amiss with the young man before him. Even though he couldn't put his finger on what was wrong, he understood that the air about his opponent was strange.

Adun felt a chill run down his spine…

…wait, what?!

”SINCE WHEN DID MY NAME CHANGE TO ADUN?!”

Blowing a fuse, the middle-aged man bellowed at the heavens.

”My name is Daniel Edwards, damn it! You introduced my full name literally just last chapter! And now you've forgotten my name, you've come up with some random nickname called Adun?! What the hell?! Have you been playing too much Starcraft or something?!”

”Don't ask me,” I replied, annoyed. ”Ask Skeleton Wizard or Radiant Translations. They are the ones who made the mistake.”

”Fuck this bullshit! Change my name back!”

”All right, all right.” I waved my hand. ”Done. Happy?”

Daniel regarded me suspiciously, but when he saw that he was referred to in the third person by his real name, he relaxed.

”Thank you.”

Then he turned back to a stunned Elem and the rest of the people in the courtyard, bowing apologetically.

”We can continue.”

”…huh?”

Everyone was gaping at him, not understanding his sudden outburst. Obviously no one had heard his exchange with me. How could they? It wasn't as if they were reading this scene from above somewhere. All they could get on was what they could see right in front of them.

And all they saw was Daniel throwing a fit and howling at the heavens.

Anyway, Daniel returned his attention back to the kid, and everyone naturally forgot about his abrupt outburst and focused on the match.

Cecilia also studied the kid, her eyes flickering inevitably to Rothwell. The crown prince looked relaxed, which indicated his absolute confidence in his man. Elem himself didn't seem to care too much, not at all intimidated by Daniel's imposing figure and massive sword. He didn't even draw his sword or adopt a defensive or offensive stance. It almost looked as if he was strolling around casually in the garden.

Yet there was an air about the kid that disturbed her. Like Daniel, Cecilia couldn't quite put her finger on it…until she suddenly realized why that creepy feeling felt so familiar.

Elem reminded her of a cat. A cat that was leisurely watching its prey in a playful manner, toying with it, but when required, would suddenly spring to life and pounce. An abrupt burst of murderous intent in a single second.

”Daniel, be careful,” she warned.

”Roger that, Miss.”

Daniel nodded tersely, having come to the same conclusion. He held his sword tightly in both hands and awaited the signal.

Bang!

As soon as the whistle went off (or gun), Daniel charged forward. Casting physical reinforcement on himself – he hadn't reached the level where he could active Ba Qi like Yuan Dao Yue Guang or Teacher Ruff Fielding – he lurched toward the unmoving Elem. His gigantic broadsword glowing as he infused it with tremendous amounts of mana, Daniel swung it with all of his might.

Elem's eyes narrowed, and his hand finally moved toward the hilt of his sword.

”!!!”

Daniel instantly realized the danger and withdrew his attack. As he did so, a slender blade scythed through the air where his right arm had been, cutting through nothingness. Even though Daniel had evaded in time, a trickle of blood dripped down from his shoulder, trickling toward his elbow.

”Tch.” Daniel clicked his tongue. ”So this is what happens even after I dodged it, huh? And it's sharp enough to pierce through my physical reinforcement spell too…”

”Ho…”

Elem looked impressed. He cocked his head to the side, studying Daniel with narrowed eyes, and then swung his sword.

”!!!”

Daniel just barely managed to block the sword pressure that hurtled out of Elem's blade, the sharp mana dissipating against his broadsword. Heaving heavily, he kicked off the ground and cleaved through Elem's position.

The younger man leaped up, deftly dodging Daniel's huge attack, and landed on the latter's broadsword. Striding forward across the length of the huge blade, he prepared to decapitate his opponent with his slender sword.

However, Daniel had a few tricks of his own. He dropped his sword of his own volition, causing Elem to stumble for a second. Gathering mana in his fist, he punched Elem while his target was still unsteady, and before he could bring his sword to bear.

”Hmm…”

”What?”

Elem had caught Daniel's fist with his free hand, stopping the powerful punch in its tracks. Despite his timely block, he found himself slowly being driven back across the falling broadsword. Without wasting any time, he brought his sword forward in a vicious counter.

”Kuh!”

Daniel quickly flipped himself backward, doing a cartwheel. Even as Elem's sword sliced through the space where his head had been, he countered with a powerful kick that sent the smaller warrior staggering backward.

Elem might be more agile and faster, but Daniel was more massive and stronger. He could overwhelm Elem easily in a head-on fight.

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Realizing that he couldn't afford to play around, Elem began casting a spell. Golden mana swirled around his sword as he prepared for an overwhelming strike.

Daniel wasn't going to be outdone, however. Springing forward, he retrieved his broadsword. Muttering an incantation under his breath, he drew large amounts of blue mana into the gigantic blade. The two swordsmen then swung their swords and unleashed massive amounts of power against each other.

”Excalibur!”

”Balmung!”

…seriously?! Since when did they get their hands on such legendary Noble Phantasms?! Are both of them trying to act as Saber or something?

The two tremendous waves of mana collided, engulfing almost the entire courtyard in a colossal explosion that devoured and devastated the meticulously groomed plants and grass. Ladies screamed and gentlemen yelled as they were buffeted by the immense shockwaves, knocked off their feet or battered to submission. Only the garden patio remained unaffected for some arcane reason, with both Cecilia and Roland sitting calmly throughout the whole fight.

Indeed, Roland was applauding excitedly.

”Brilliant! What a brilliant fight!”